NTA Unveils Early 2027 Exam Dates, Kicking Off JEE Main on January 22

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released its tentative examination calendar for early 2027, confirming that the first session of JEE (Main) 2027 will kick off on January 22. This crucial engineering entrance exam for admissions to top institutions like NITs and IIITs will span six days, concluding on January 30, with an extra day kept as a 'buffer date' for any unexpected changes. This early announcement aims to help lakhs of students and educational institutions plan their academic year well in advance. This year's JEE (Main) will follow a familiar two-session format, with the second session expected in April 2027, allowing candidates to use their higher score for final ranking. The top 2.50 lakh candidates from JEE (Main) will then qualify for JEE (Advanced), the gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). A key eligibility factor for NIT, IIIT, and IIT admissions remains the '75% criteria' in Class 12 board exams or being in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards. While the detailed examination notification for JEE (Main) 2027 is expected next month, the NTA calendar also provides dates for other major exams like the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) in February and various Common University Entrance Test (CUET) postgraduate exams throughout March. Students should regularly check the official NTA website for precise details, as these tentative dates could still shift due to administrative or logistical needs.